William Herschel discovered NGC 5249 = H III-72 = h1651 on 21 Mar 1784 (sweep 182) and noted "a vS suspected nebula, eF. Higher power immediately confirmed it." CH's reduced position is 20 sec of RA west of UGC 8618. JH made three observations and his mean position is within 30".

400/500mm - 17.5" (5/27/95): faint, small, slightly elongated, 0.8'x0.6'. Unconcentrated halo rises suddenly to a very small brighter core that appears offset to the NE side.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb